CA Supreme Court Throws Out Marijuana Dispensary Ban Case [View all]

The California Supreme Court dismissed review on Wednesday of an important appellate court ruling affecting medical marijuana dispensaries throughout the state. Specifically, the High Court threw out the controversial decision in Pack v. City of Long Beach, which previously held that federal law preempted some forms of dispensary regulations.

The Pack decision has been used by several municipalities, including Los Angeles and Long Beach, to suspend or ban outright the distribution of medical marijuana. However, Wednesday's dismissal of the Pack decision throws into question the viability of such bans.

"This is an important moment for medical marijuana patients in California," said Joe Elford, chief counsel with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a medical marijuana advocacy organization. "The California Supreme Court has essentially pulled out the rug from under local officials who have used the Pack decision to deny access to medical marijuana for thousands of patients across the state."

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